Extension car-step.



J: F. THGMPSGN.

EXTENSION GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.23,1914,

Patel'ed Feb. 16, 1915.

2 s'HBBTs-SHBBT 1.

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@Wi/wams J. F. THOMPSON.

EXTENSION GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 23, 191'4.

Patented Feb. v16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOSEPH FLANAGAN THOMPSON,

OF MARIETTA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OIF ONE-HALF TO GEQRGE H. SPNDLER, or. MARIETTA, OHIO.

EXTENSION CAR-STEP.

THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, re-

v which carries an 'operating parts.

siding at Marietta, in the county of Washlington and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension Car-Steps; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description Of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to car steps and more particularly to extension steps for cars.

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed, strong and easily operated extension step or steps which may be readily applied to the fixed steps already in use without any change being made in the latter. i i

With the above and other objects in View,

the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

n the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a portion of a car equipped with this improved step, the step being shown in .side elevation; Fig. 2 is av side elevation of the car showing the step in front elevation and with the extension member thereof raised 24 Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of ig 2; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the extension step in lowered operative position and the parts for operating it 'in the position which they assume when said step 1s so lowered; Fig.. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 isl a rear elevation thereof. s

ln the embodiment illustrated, P repre,- sents the ordinary platform of a. car and Sthe ixe'd steps leading therefrom having the usual rails R connecting the ends thereof. Removably mounted on these rails R and in alinement with the rear edges thereofI seating snuglv on said edges, is a frame 1 extensionstep 2 and its This frame 1 consists of two side plates `or rails 3 which are connected by cross bars v4 and 5, here shown disposed at the opposite ends of said rails.

lThe lower ends of these rails 3 are inclined to correspond with the lower ends of the rails R with which, they aligne whep.- the-at- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Fell 16, 191,5 Application filed November 23, 1914.

Serial No. 873,547.

tachment is applied. The lower edges of these rails 3 are preferably curved as shown to provide longitudinallyl spaced projections 6 and 7, on the lower faces of the former of which are mounted shaft bearings 8 for a purpose to be described. This frame 1 is here shown connected with the rails R of the fixed Vor stationary steps of the car by means of two pairs of brackets 9 and 10 which are similarly constructed and disposed on opposite sides of the rails, each pair 'of brackets comprising L-shaped'members 11 and 12 having their laterally extending arms provided with apertures for receiving a securing bolt 13, it being understood that one of each pair of brackets is mounted von the rail R and one on the rail 3 with the aperturesin their laterally extending arms alining so that when the bolts 13 are passed therethrough and the nuts engaged with their ends, the frame 1 will be securely connected with the rails R of the stationary stes.

(guides 14 and15are secured to the inner faces of the rails 3 and extend longitudinally thereof, preferably throughout their entire length, said guides being here shown ydistance between the flanges 17 of the guides 14 and 15 andere adapted to slide in said O'u'ides. cross bar or plate 21 connects tlielower. ends of these bars 19 and 20 and lto whichthe extension step 2 is fixed` preferably by means of angle strips or plates 22 .and23 which are shown secured to the lower faces of the plate 21 and the step 2 trespece tively, whereby` said step is securely fixed lto the sliding frame 18. The plate 21 is here shown recessed at its inner edge midway its length and a stub shaft or rod 24 spans said recess and is designed to receive one end of a pitman 25 to be' described.- As

Startliste@ form .0f ries. which are adapted to engage the cross 'limitingihe outward or extension nove provided with laterally extending llsnges 29 which are secured to the lower :lace el said step 2 adjacent its opposite ends and the body portions of these plates .lit against 'the end edges of the step and against the outer faces of the rails'll and 3 and are of length equal to the distance which said extension is de 'signed to he projected sov that plates always engage the outer faces of said rails and thus guide the sliding 'trane and hold against lateral movement.

A shaft 30 isrevohzhly mounted in the bearings 8 on the lower faces of the projec y tions 6 of the rails Band one end of said shaft projects beyond the outer face of Jlthe adjacent rail 3 and is provided with a bevel gear 31 which is lined thereto and is designed to mesh with a similarly shape l gear 32 carried oy anupright standard or ,rod 33 revolubly mounted in suitable hearings carried by the rail 3, said rod having an operatw ing wheeler handle at its upper endpos tioned for convenient actuation hy the conj doctor or other member off the'train crew apurpose to he described.

y A. plate or link 35 is fixed to shaft 3G midway the ends thereof with one end projecting ouiwvardly and the other' inwardly, the inward end ofsaid link being connect-ed with the inner end of the pitinan and which yhas a balanceweight secured there to, said weight being designed,to assist in v'the 'opening increment of' the'cirtension step land also-performs 'the function of aspring 'engagingcam for holding the extension stepI yieldably in'4 retracted position. The spring 37 with which this weightfls designed to ce ,operatorie here shown in the form of a resil ient strip secured at; one end to the cross har 4 and having an outwardly carved portion.

thereinarranged in the path of said balance weight 36 with its free end turned inward to facilitate the engagement out said weigl vwith theoutwardly bowed portion thereof.. The free end of the .link 35 may be connected With a lever .orseries of levers. disposed ai; any" sitableipoint on 'the train or car for actuating vthe extension step at a point remote therefrom.

When itis desired to operate 'this extenl sionl step from the platform P of the cer 4all in the pro er direction whereby the bevel on its lower end meshing with the bevel @gear 3l. on the shaft 30, will impart a L turn to said shaft, thereby moving the weightcarried end of the link down ward against the tension of 'the spring 3T, thus moving the pitm'an 25 and the sliding frame i8 connected therewith downward or in ,d or 'ne shaft, thereby assisting and holf in; it in is position, the sj'iring pre- Ten its acc iental downward movement.

rjnoiild the operator neglect to retract the let.. turning the hand Wheel 34:, and said s should come in Contact with a projet tion, it would he forced inward into closed position without in any way injuring any of 'the actuating parts thereof.

lf claimy as my invention:

The combination with xed steps. or' an e'aensihle step slidably mounted relatively thereto, operating means for said ,sliding step including; a earn member, a resilient locking elemens disposed in the path o said nemhor and adaptedzto engaged "1y when the sliding; step is in retracted nd means for reti-acting end proa sliding step. I sl ling eizensihle' step comprisinfrin combination with the fixed steps of a car. a iframe., guides en frame, an extensible step slidahljf mounted in said guides, means for said step iiicludinfry a cam member. a resilient strip disposed in the vpath of said cam member and having an outwardl;r bowed portion for engagement by said cam member when the step is in retracted position to yielda'oly hold it in said position, and means for retraeting and projecting said step.

3. A sliding` extensible step coniprisingq in. combination with the iii-:ed steps of a car,

a frame to the sidinfs or rails of the.

steps, guides on the side members of said frame, an extensible step having laterally' spaced arms extendingF rearwardly there :from ands dably engaafng said-guides, means for innitingr the sliding movement of the arms, operating,` means for .id step cornprisine;v a rei'oiuhle shaft extending transversely' of said frame, a Ilink fixed to said shaft, a, pitmanonnectinn' said sten and linie, a com member carried by said link, a

resilient looking; element disposed in the 1.- fessary to turn the hand wheel 3e path of said cam and adapted to be engaged thereby when the step is in retracted posi* tion, and means for turning said shaft to reshaft, a pitman connecting said step and link, a weighted cam member carried by said link, a resilient lacking element dis* posed in the path of said cam and adapted to be engaged thereby when the step is in retracted position, and means for turning said shalt to retract or project said step.

5. A sliding extensible step comprising in cmnbination with the"`iixed steps of a car7 a l'raine lined lo the sidings or rails of the steps, guides on the side members of said frame, an extensible step having laterally spaced arms extending' rearwardly therefrom and Slidably engaging said guides, means for limiting the Sliding movement of the arms, operating' means for said step comprising a revoluble shaft extendingr transversely of said frame, a link fixed to said shaft, a pitman connecting Said Step and link` a cam member carried by said link, a resilient strip secured to Said -frame in the path of said cam and havingr an outwardly bowed portion for engagement by said cam when the step is in retracted position to vieldably hold it in said position, and means for turning said shaft to retaet or project said step.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing,` witnesses.

J OSEIH` FLANAGAN THOMPSON.

Witnesses: i

L. E. MiLLi-m, SHELLA VNLAND. 

